Coimbra, Portugal: travel guide
Historic university city on the Mondego — the UNESCO-listed University of Coimbra, Joanina Library and fado de Coimbra.
- Country
- Portugal
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Lisbon
Top places to visit in Coimbra
University of Coimbra (Paço das Escolas)
Heritage · about 2 h · entry EUR 13
One of Europe's oldest universities (1290), a UNESCO site crowning the hill above the Mondego.
Joanina Library
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry EUR 13
Sumptuous 18th-century baroque library whose colony of bats protects the books from insects.
Sé Velha (Old Cathedral)
Church · about 0.7 h · entry EUR 3
Well-preserved 12th-century Romanesque cathedral with a fortress-like façade and cloister.
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz
Monastery · about 0.7 h · entry EUR 3
12th-century monastery holding the tombs of Portugal's first two kings; ornate Manueline detail.
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Monastery · about 1 h · entry EUR 5
Gothic monastery once flooded by the Mondego, excavated and restored on the river's south bank.
Jardim Botânico da Universidade
Nature · about 1 h
Historic 18th-century botanical garden with tropical greenhouses and shaded terraces.
Portugal dos Pequenitos
Cultural · about 1.5 h · entry EUR 12
Miniature park of Portuguese and former-colony monuments, a family favourite.
Things to do
- University of Coimbra Guided Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 25 per person
- Fado de Coimbra Concert Cultural · 1 h · from EUR 20 per person
- Mondego River Kayak & SUP Water Sports · 2 h · from EUR 25 per person
Day trips and tours
- Coimbra University & Old Town 3 h · from EUR 25
Where to stay in Coimbra
- Baixa (Downtown) about EUR 75 per night
Riverside lower town, flat and central near shops and the station.
Hotels
- Quinta das Lágrimas 5-star · EUR 180 to EUR 420 per night
- Serenata Hostel Coimbra 2-star · EUR 22 to EUR 75 per night
- Hotel Oslo Coimbra 3-star · EUR 70 to EUR 130 per night
Where to eat
- Zé Manel dos Ossos Portuguese · about EUR 15 per person
- Solar do Bacalhau Portuguese, Seafood · about EUR 22 per person
- A Cozinha da Maria Portuguese · about EUR 20 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.